Connecting to city water: what happens to the old well, and why a cap is not enough

Why a cap does not satisfy the rule

A cap keeps leaves and animals out of the casing. It does nothing about the bore itself, which still connects the surface, the shallow zone and the Floridan aquifer through a corroding pipe. Over years the casing rusts through, the annulus opens, and surface water carries whatever is on it straight down. That is the contamination path Chapter 62-532 is written to close.

How abandonment is done

The permit is filed with the same office that issues construction permits in that county. The pump, drop pipe and wire come out. The bore is sounded so its depth and any obstruction are known. Neat cement grout or bentonite is pumped in from the bottom up through a tremie pipe so it displaces the water rather than bridging over it. The casing is cut off below grade and the site is restored. An abandonment report goes to the office and stays on the property's record.

The septic tank on the same visit

Connecting to utility water often means connecting to sewer at the same time, and the septic tank has its own abandonment rule under Chapter 64E-6: pumped by a licensed contractor, the lid and floor broken or the tank removed, the void filled and compacted, under a permit and an inspection. Doing both on one visit is cheaper and leaves the property with both records closed.

Keeping a well for irrigation

Sometimes an old well is sound and worth keeping as a non-potable irrigation well after the house moves to utility water. That is a permit conversation rather than a default, and it requires backflow separation so well water cannot enter the house supply.